Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

Just as Xia Jin sent people to transport Yue Qianfeng's body back to the Jade Balance Sect,

He has already returned to the vicinity of Zuixianglou in Lingtian City.

The reason they are here is because Liu Yan, the fourth elder of the Wusheng Sect, is currently in the Zuixiang Tower.

Something's not right...

Liu Yan sat in a grand chair, but his gaze was fixed on the burns on his left arm, and he seemed a little lost in thought.

"That old ghost Yue's cultivation should be slightly stronger than mine! But in the end, he was defeated by me! Where exactly did things go wrong?"

He stood up and paced back and forth a dozen steps, the scene of their fight replaying in his mind.

"Could there have been a third party present at the time?!" Liu Yan frowned, but quickly shook his head.

Impossible. Of course, if there were other people present, he couldn't possibly not have noticed!

"Bang!"

Unable to understand, Liu Yan slammed his palm down, and the solid sandalwood table next to him shattered into a pile of fragments.

Just then, a commotion came from the street outside, and you could vaguely hear words like "Yuheng Sect", "Third Elder" and "death".

Liu Yan's expression changed, and he walked directly to the window and looked down.

On the street below, numerous vendors were whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

"Someone come here!" He felt a vague unease and called out directly towards the door.

Before long, a woman with alluring makeup pushed open the door and entered; she was one of the most popular courtesans in the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.

Seeing that Liu Yan's expression seemed somewhat unpleasant, she, being adept at reading people, quickly bowed and asked, "Lord Liu, what are your orders?"

"What was all that noise outside just now?" Liu Yan asked calmly, staring at her.

The woman naturally dared not hide it.

"My lord, the streets are buzzing with rumors that you made quite a splash yesterday, fighting and killing the Third Elder of the Jade Balance Sect outside Lingtian City!"

"What?!"

Liu Yan's pupils suddenly contracted. He grabbed the other person's wrist and stared into their eyes with a ferocious expression.

"You...you were telling the truth!!"

"M-My lord, how could I dare to deceive you!!" The woman felt as if a force was about to crush her wrist. She endured the excruciating pain and said tremblingly.

"Alright! Get out of here!" Liu Yan released the other person's wrist and waved her hand.

"This servant...this servant takes her leave!" The woman hurriedly covered her bruised hand and left the room.

The news has spread?

How could that be! On that day, in the desolate wilderness, there was absolutely no one else watching. Yue Qianfeng died at my hands; there was no way I could have leaked this…

Who could have spread this news?

Is it aimed at themselves, or are they plotting against the Wusheng Sect?

"Bastard?!" Liu Yan gritted his teeth and growled, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

He had a vague premonition that an invisible hand wanted to drag him and the Gate of No Life down with him.

On the same day the news spread throughout Lingtian City, Xiao Fubai, the leader of the Wusheng Sect, also received the news almost simultaneously.

"Elder Liu single-handedly killed Yue Qianfeng of the Jade Balance Sect?"

Inside the main hall, after listening to a report from a disciple below, Xiao Fubai raised an eyebrow and a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"Heh heh heh... Do you really think I'm an idiot?"

Others may not know, but surely he, as the sect leader, knows Liu Yan's true worth?

Liu Yan, as the fourth elder of the Wusheng Sect, is not only powerful, but also a master at the fourth level of the Xiaoyao Heaven Realm.

However, Yue Qianfeng was also a renowned elder of the Yuheng Sect, whose cultivation had reached the fifth level of the Xiaoyao Heaven Realm.

Although there is only a difference of one realm, Xiao Fubai finds it hard to believe that Liu Yan could even fight to a standstill, let alone kill him!

Below, Zhao Ying, the Grand Elder of the Wusheng Sect, stepped forward. He was not concerned about whether Liu Yan had the strength to kill Yue Qianfeng, but rather thought of another question.

"Sect Master, there's no point in dwelling on this now. Now that the news has spread, the entire Jade Balance Sect will surely be furious."

"Qiu Changtian's reputation for protecting his own is well-known in Beiji, and Yue Qianfeng is the right-hand man of the entire Yuheng Sect. They will definitely not let this matter go! They will probably come to question us in the next few days."

After saying that, a hint of worry flashed in Elder Zhao Ying's eyes.

"Are you afraid that Qiu Changtian will come to your door to demand an explanation?!" Upon hearing this, Xiao Fubai not only showed no concern, but instead let out a cold laugh.

As the sect leader of the Wusheng Sect and a ninth-level cultivator of the Xiaoyao Heaven Realm, he was extremely burly. Even when seated, he resembled a crouching ferocious beast, exuding an oppressive aura.

"Hmph! If it weren't for my fear of the Northern Hebei royal family, that they might weaken us and the Jade Balance Sect by fighting to the death, allowing them to take advantage of the situation, I would have personally wiped out that old bastard Qiu Changtian and the Jade Balance Sect long ago!"

His eyes flashed with a cold light, his ambition and murderous intent undisguised.

The Wusheng Sect and the Yuheng Sect have been engaged in open and covert struggles in Beiji for decades, and their grudges have deepened.

Both sides are constantly looking for an opportunity to annex each other.

Of course, in terms of opportunity, the Wusheng Sect obviously has a greater chance. After all, although Xiao Fubai and Qiu Changtian are both at the ninth level of the Xiaoyao Heaven Realm, Xiao Fubai is in his prime and his blood and energy are at their peak!

In contrast, Qiu Changtian was sixty years older than him, and his vital energy and blood were showing signs of decline.

It is precisely for this reason that Qiu Changtian, the sect leader of the Jade Balance Sect, acts with extreme caution.

"Elder Zhao, do you think Yue Qianfeng's death might actually be a good thing for us? After all, no matter what the truth is, it's like giving that old bastard Qiu Changtian a good slap in the face. Perhaps... this is the perfect opportunity to force him to leave the Jade Balance Sect."

Xiao Fubai looked down at Elder Zhao, a hint of calculation in his eyes.

"As long as he dares to leave the Jade Balance Sect, I can find a 'suitable' opportunity to destroy him! Once he's dead, the Jade Balance Sect will be leaderless, and my Lifeless Sect will be able to slowly devour it. As for the Northern Hebei royal family, by then it will be too late for them to interfere!"

At this point, Xiao Fubai's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he beckoned to Elder Zhao Ying.

Zhao Ying understood and immediately strode forward.

Xiao Fubai lowered his voice and spoke very quickly, whispering a few instructions in his ear.

Zhao Ying was slightly taken aback at first, then his face showed a look of sudden realization.

"Sect Leader, you are brilliant! This plan is excellent! I will make the arrangements. I guarantee that by today, word will spread that our Wusheng Sect Leader has already set off for Lingtian City to investigate the truth!"

"That's right, I want to make that old bastard Qiu Changtian lower his guard and know that I'm not at the Wusheng Sect headquarters so he can come directly to Lingtian City to demand an explanation!"

"When that time comes, I, the sect leader, will have the opportunity to spare this old fellow's life in Lingtian City!"